Mesa Verde Weekly Newsletter
August 14th, 2026
Here's What's Happening in September
September 20-21: Yom Kippur
September 21-25: Conference Week
Next week is Conference Week, and we’re looking forward to connecting with our MVMS families!
Middle school conferences can look a little different than they did in elementary school. With students having multiple teachers, families may not need to meet with every teacher. Instead, conferences are scheduled based on the perceived needs of each student, with particular attention given to students who may benefit from additional academic, behavioral, or social-emotional support. If your student is invited to a conference, we encourage you to see it as an opportunity to connect, ask questions, celebrate successes, and work together on ways to support your student.
We also encourage you to include your student in the conversation whenever possible. Ask them what they feel is going well, where they are feeling challenged, and what support they think would help them continue to grow. Our goal is for conferences to be a positive partnership between students, families, and teachers, focused on understanding each student and helping them feel supported and successful at MVMS.
AVID Tip of the Week: Advocate for Yourself
Your teachers are here to help, but they can’t help if they don’t know what you need!
Self-advocacy means speaking up, asking questions, and taking responsibility for your learning.
Try these strategies this week:
- Ask questions: “I’m confused about this part. Can you explain it another way?”
- Ask for clarification: “Can you help me understand what I need to do to be successful on this assignment?”
- Communicate early: If you are struggling, don’t wait until the assignment is due.
- Be specific: Instead of saying, “I don’t get it,” try, “I understand the first step, but I’m stuck on the second.”
- Follow up: If you talked with your teacher, make sure you take the next step they suggested.
Remember: Asking for help isn't a sign that you aren't capable. It is a sign that you care about your learning and are willing to advocate for yourself.
Attendance and OCIS Contracts: If you have a student who will not be in class for 5-14 days, please notify the office so we can have the parents fill out an OCIS contract for their child. The forms will have to be completed and signed by parents 5-10 days in advance of the absence.If you and your child would like to contract the OCIS, please contact the attendance office.
Parents are required to give 5 days notice for absences up to 5 days, 10 days notice for absences more than 5 days.
Prepping work for students who are absent is an incredible amount of work for our teaching staff and we ask that you give your child’s teacher as much advance notice as possible beyond the above guidelines.
We do not write contracts beyond 14 days. If you plan to be away for 15 or more days please contact the Office for the necessary procedures.
Attendance: To report your child's absence or early checkout, please notify l the attendance office at before 10:00 am on the day of the absence. Please include your child's name, dates of absence, and reason for absence. We kindly ask that you avoid checking out your student during the lunch period from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Please refer to the attendance section of our Mesa Verde website for protocols regarding reporting student absences and requesting early release for your student.'
California Education Code 48205 states that a student may be excused legally from school when the absence is due to:
- Personal illness or injury
- Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health office
- Medical, dental, or chiropractic services
- Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family
- Justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, when the pupil's absence has been requested in writing by the parent and approved by the principal or designated representative
- For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election
- Exclusion for failure to present evidence of immunization
- Exclusion from school because student is either the carrier of a contagious disease or not immunized for a contagious disease
Communication with your Student If there is a need to communicate with your child during the school day, please send a message to the Office. Please refrain from communicating with them directly through text messages or phone calls as it disrupts their learning.
